GRANDVILLE – The Fruitport football team has found its rhythm at the right time, and the Trojans showed no signs of slowing down Friday night.

After an explosive first half and another dominant defensive showing, Fruitport cruised to a 42-6 win over Calvin Christian at Davies Field, extending its winning streak to four and improving to 5-2 on the season.

The Trojans scored touchdowns on all five of their first-half possessions, building a commanding 35-0 halftime lead.

Quarterback Brady Hanson led the offensive attack with 110 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with 40 passing yards, while Johnnie Kempker added 78 rushing yards, including a 50-yard scoring run.

The win marked Fruitport’s third straight victory by at least 25 points, continuing an impressive stretch that began after a heartbreaking 19-14 loss to Belding earlier in the season.

The night started out on an odd and worrisome note for the Trojans when Calvin Christian started the game with a stunning and successful onside kick, recovering the ball at the Fruitport 35.

The Squires advanced inside the 10-yard line, but Fruitport’s defense held strong and forced a missed 27-yard field-goal attempt.

Fruitport head coach John Shipley credited his defense for responding to the early adversity and setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

“We got to be ready to go out of the gate,” Shipley said. “I was proud of our defense getting a stop there, and I really think that just gave us momentum to go on a really nice drive.”

Starting at their own 10-yard line, the Trojans then marched 90 yards downfield behind several strong rushing plays. Kempker opened the possession with a 26-yard run, while Hanson added a 22-yard quarterback keeper.

Jayce Hanson capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, giving Fruitport a 7-0 lead with 4:56 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Trojans’ next two offensive drives were considerably quicker.

After the defense forced a punt, Josh Eppard opened Fruitport’s second drive with a 14-yard run before Brady Hanson broke free for a 65-yard touchdown on a quarterback option, extending the lead to 13-0.

Kempker delivered another explosive play on Fruitport’s following possession, racing 50 yards for a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Eppard converted the 2-point attempt, giving the Trojans a commanding 21-0 advantage.

Fruitport continued its offensive dominance in the second quarter. Liam Campbell scored on a one-yard run with 5:49 remaining, and Eppard powered his way into the end zone from 14 yards out just over two minutes later, and the Trojans led 35-0.

Fruitport’s scoring blitz was not entirely based on the ground game. Hanson also connected with his brother, Jayce Hanson, on completions of 21 and 19 yards during the second quarter, showing Fruitport’s ability to diversity his attack.

“Brady did a great job commanding the offense,” Shipley said. “We set the tone with the run to get going and kind of opened up some of our pass game.”

While Fruitport’s offense dominated the first half, its defense kept the Squires off the board.

Defensive lineman Colton Smith was a consistent presence in Calvin Christian’s backfield, recording several tackles for losses. Campbell and Eppard also added sacks, while Fruitport repeatedly put Calvin Christian in difficult passing situations.

Calvin Christian finally broke through late in the third quarter when quarterback Greyson Cook connected with Owen Kochans for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:45 remaining.

The Squires’ momentum disappeared almost immediately, however.

On the ensuing kickoff, Fruitport’s Owen Doctor raced 80 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Trojans’ advantage to 42-6 with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter.

Fruitport’s offense barely saw the field in the second half, with Calvin Christian controlling much of the possession time while the Trojans rotated several reserves and junior varsity players into the game.

The Trojans have outscored their opponents 144-23 over their last four games, showing a balance between a physical offense and an increasingly dependable defense.

Still, Shipley emphasized the importance of remaining focused as Fruitport prepares for another important conference matchup next week.

“Staying humble,” Shipley said. “It’s showing up prepared to work. The level of focus that needs to exist, day in, day out. There’s always room for growth and always room for opportunity.”

Fruitport will look to extend its winning streak to five games next week against Comstock Park in a special game at LMCU Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps, before facing NorthPointe Christian on Oct. 23.